WICKEDNESS

By:
Ajukura, Fidelis O.
9th April, 2023
ajukurafidelisobi@gmail.com

Wickedness is a debased act: it does not only lower the integrity of the actor, it inflicts pain and suffering on the victim. By way of definition, wickedness is "the quality of being evil or morally wrong". Examples of wickedness include; disregard for constituted authority, justice, righteousness, truth, honour, evil in thought and life.

Several reasons account for why people are wicked but two reasons are very significant - pride and aggressiveness. Proud people can do anything to further their interest. They feel that they're better than every other person. Proud people are rather aggressive than humble - they can act in a manner that undermines the interest and wellbeing of others without any feeling of pity or regret.

Any man who takes delight in wickedness will always look for justification for being wicked. People who are wicked sometimes look at simplicity and humility as weakness. For this reason, they adore and worship villains or evildoers - those who make life unbearable for others.

During the Nigerian civil war, a young Biafran soldier of not more than 27 years of age, Ogueri was known for being maniacally wicked. Without any provocation, Ogueri will shoot dead any civilian he dislikes. Ogueri was so wicked that even his superiors feared him; he relished in wicked deeds. Ogueri does not see beautiful girls. Whenever he does, he abducts them and rapes them to his heart content before releasing them. Married women were not free from his evil escapades. He abused them each time he had the opportunity to do so. One cool evening, he moved rapidly into a particular house with his automatic rifle perching loosely on his shoulder and demanded to have sex with the beautiful woman of the house right in the presence of her husband. Every entreaty to make him rescind his decision fell on deaf ears. According to the dictate of his heart, he had carnal knowledge of the woman right under the watchful eyes of the sobbing husband. Ogueri was an epitome of wickedness. One day, while sitting under a mango tree and enjoying the late morning breeze, his loaded rifle which he forgot to put on safety suddenly exploded and a bullet from the muzzle of the rifle tore through his right thigh almost severing it. His colleagues who were there with him pretended to be concerned in saving his life but in reality, they wanted him to die because of his wickedness. Before an ambulance could arrive to take him to the military hospital, he had passed away. Cause of death? Excessive bleeding!

Another agent of wickedness I would like to discuss is Abu Miesigha popularly known as 'Abu'. Abu was an Izon man. He was a good boxer who participated in different boxing competitions within and outside the country until he derailed and went into the life of drug abuse. To satisfy his urge or craving for drugs, he resorted to all manner of criminality. As a strong boxer, he never failed to put his boxing skills to use whenever the need arises. Abu who grew up in the Bundu axis of Port Harcourt later relocated to Diobu area of the same town in order to further his nefarious activities. In Diobu, Abu became a known threat to the residents of the area. There was hardly anybody in Diobu, especially Mile 2 and 3 who was not familiar with the name, Abu. Abu had different means of attacking his victims and dispossessing them of their valuables such as; money, jewelries etc. The most vulnerable victims of Abu were the commercial motorcyclists (okada men) who had just began to use their motorcycles for commercial purpose in order to make ends meet. In the night , Abu would take a bike from one location of town to his cherished spots where he disposseses okada men of their hard-earned money. In situations where there is a resistance from the okada man, Abu will singlehandedly beat the okada man black and blue before leaving with his loot. Abu was a dreadful fellow such that people feared to attack him. For this reason, he pranced the streets with the courage and boldness of a lion while eyes pored silently at him . On 31st August 1994, Abu met his Waterloo when the Mobile policemen stationed at Azikiwe by Ojoto junction caught him while trying to flee from a woman he had robbed. After his arrest, myriad of negative reports from residents began to flow to the police such that, he was extinguished that very night. The following day when the news of Abu's death was broken to the public, the entire Diobu went agog with jubilation. The people could not hide their joy: they took to the streets to celebrate. The okada men in their motorcycles came out en-masse to celebrate the death of their greatest adversary. In the course of the jubilation, they, using their bikes entertained the people with dexterous hair raising displays.

Wickedness is a bitch; it consumes those who engage in it. Those who understands this and turn away from it are spared tragic and shameful end. But those who are intransigent and self-opinionated will end like chaff before the wind - they shall be disgraced!

Wickedness is so grievous that it perforates the name of its agents. In history, wicked people are often treated with hate and derision. For instance, nobody adores the name 'Judas' because it is believed to be associated with evil. Children whose parents were destroyed by their wickedness usually do not want to be reminded about their history - there is nothing proud and honourable about it.

Let us shun wickedness in order not to be consumed by it.